My official transcripts won't arrive by the deadline

[ZebraFinch]

My undergrad is in a country where the holidays are extended till the 8th of January or more. I requested official transcripts, but between their 5-7  days of processing time AND mailing them, there's no way they'll get to my programs on time. Is there anything I can do? My university does not do e-transcripts either so that's not an option.

[MJA87]

How late will they be? I'm no expert, but I believe if they're only a week or so late it shouldn't be a big deal.

 

One of the schools I'm applying to said the process of matching up the physical transcripts to the online applications will take weeks itself.

[ZebraFinch]

How late will they be? I'm no expert, but I believe if they're only a week or so late it shouldn't be a big deal.

 

One of the schools I'm applying to said the process of matching up the physical transcripts to the online applications will take weeks itself.

 

I'm thinking a max of seven business days after the deadline.  I'm just freaking out because I had called last week, and they said I could email scans of unofficial transcripts but apparently that person was wrong.

[MJA87]

I'm thinking a max of seven business days after the deadline.  I'm just freaking out because I had called last week, and they said I could email scans of unofficial transcripts but apparently that person was wrong.

 

Which program if you don't mind my asking? Out of the eight programs I'm applying to only two required mailed official transcripts, the rest were unofficials submitted online.

[ZebraFinch]

Which program if you don't mind my asking? Out of the eight programs I'm applying to only two required mailed official transcripts, the rest were unofficials submitted online.

 

Master of International Studies at Korbel.

[Gov2School]

Contact the program and let them know.  Every school has their own policy on late materials. For most of them it probably won't be a big deal. 

[Bombaygunner]

Someone at SAIS told me they will wait a few days after the deadline for additional materials to come in from international students.

[laurbee]

I've run into this problem but with my LORs. Apparently it's put me out of fellowship consideration at SIPA (I know they're stingy, but I at least wanted the chance) and potentially Fordham (haven't had responses from their adcom this whole cycle, btw) since they weren't submitted by the deadline. One of the writers I haven't even heard from since her initial agreement to write it for me. At this point, I'm at a loss of what to do. I was really hoping for fellowships etc from schools since all the other outside fellowships (Rangel, etc.) seem to be for the Foreign Service, which I absolutely am not interested in.

Edited January 14, 2015 by laurbee

[chocolatecheesecake]

I've run into this problem but with my LORs. Apparently it's put me out of fellowship consideration at SIPA (I know they're stingy, but I at least wanted the chance) and potentially Fordham (haven't had responses from their adcom this whole cycle, btw) since they weren't submitted by the deadline. One of the writers I haven't even heard from since her initial agreement to write it for me. At this point, I'm at a loss of what to do. I was really hoping for fellowships etc from schools since all the other outside fellowships (Rangel, etc.) seem to be for the Foreign Service, which I absolutely am not interested in.

 

I've had this problem myself where one of my recommenders kept putting me off (even a month after the deadline had passed for my top choice school), and what I did was to call essentially my back-up professional recommender, someone I know and trust very much, to come in and pinch-hit this recommendation. Very fortunately, she was able to send something out in within two days. I would strongly urge you to find someone and do that right away if your initial recommender hasn't been in contact despite your email/calls. And if you haven't contacted them, call right away and let them know you need someone else. Finally, I'd contact SIPA (and any other schools) and plead your case because it's your recommender's fault, not yours. It may not be successful, but at least you've tried. Good luck!

[laurbee]

I've had this problem myself where one of my recommenders kept putting me off (even a month after the deadline had passed for my top choice school), and what I did was to call essentially my back-up professional recommender, someone I know and trust very much, to come in and pinch-hit this recommendation. Very fortunately, she was able to send something out in within two days. I would strongly urge you to find someone and do that right away if your initial recommender hasn't been in contact despite your email/calls. And if you haven't contacted them, call right away and let them know you need someone else. Finally, I'd contact SIPA (and any other schools) and plead your case because it's your recommender's fault, not yours. It may not be successful, but at least you've tried. Good luck!

I have a potential back-up professor on hand, I just 1) don't know if the recommendation would be as glowing as it would be from this one and 2) don't want the professor to know she was a B-List request (you know how people can find out they're the B-List for a wedding? Yeah that...) I honestly don't understand why some schools are such hardliners about these deadlines when it comes to supplementary materials like the letters. From a simple search of this forum or Google, late letters is apparently a very common problem, and it's 99% of the time out of our hands. So frustrating. I will definitely be sending some crafty emails to the adcoms soon. It's worth a shot at least 

[Guest]

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Edited January 14, 2015 by Guest

[Guest]

Master of International Studies at Korbel.

 

 

University of Denver? Josef Korbel school of International Studies? I just uploaded a scanned copy of my transcript in the 'misc' upload box. It was a place to upload something, so I figured why not upload the transcript there? There are also scanner apps for your phone if you do not have an actual scanner

 

I personally did not like the way their application system was set up because you could not preview the documents after uploading them. I'm sure that you could email a scanned copy of the transcript to the email as well...I'm a college student without a car and do not have the sources to get to a near by post office. Sad, I know.

 

I applied to Korbel for a Masters International Security.

Edited January 14, 2015 by Guest

[ZebraFinch]

 

University of Denver? Josef Korbel school of International Studies? I just uploaded a scanned copy of my transcript in the 'misc' upload box. It was a place to upload something, so I figured why not upload the transcript there? There are also scanner apps for your phone if you do not have an actual scanner

 

I personally did not like the way their application system was set up because you could not preview the documents after uploading them. I'm sure that you could email a scanned copy of the transcript to the email as well...I'm a college student without a car and do not have the sources to get to a near by post office. Sad, I know.

 

I applied to Korbel for a Masters International Security.

 

 

Yeah, I'm thinking of doing just that, because now my undergrad uni informed me the transcripts they've sent are HANDWRITTEN. Yeah. 

 

I did call Korbel and they said they wouldn't accepts transcripts via email. 

[Guest]

Yeah, I'm thinking of doing just that, because now my undergrad uni informed me the transcripts they've sent are HANDWRITTEN. Yeah. 

 

I did call Korbel and they said they wouldn't accepts transcripts via email. 

Hand written transcripts? That sounds a bit strange O_o.Yeah, most Int'l Affairs programs seem to call for uploaded transcripts these days too. When I saw that misc upload box, it said nothing in particular about what types of documents.So, they shouldn't have a problem with the transcripts going over there lol.